People walk past an apartment building in Hong Kong on February 20, 2021. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG - The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) on Saturday said it has referred all suspected fraudulent LeaveHomeSafe websites and mobile apps to the Hong Kong police for follow-up.

In a statement, the OGCIO said the fraudulent LeaveHomeSafe mobile app situation was running rampant, adding that making or using those fake apps may breach relevant laws.

The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer said the fraudulent LeaveHomeSafe mobile app situation was running rampant, adding that making or using those fake apps may breach relevant laws

While explanatory work on the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app will continue, the OGCIO reminded the public to be wary and not to believe in fake and false information.

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The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data also issued a statement on February 19 which confirmed that the app is in compliance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance's relevant requirements.

The OGCIO reiterated that the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app does not require registration for use and it does not have a tracking function. Venue check-in data will not be uploaded or transferred to the government or any other systems, and is saved on users' mobile phones only.

Matching of users' check-in data and the issuing of health alerts will only be carried out within the app. Users' whereabouts will not be disclosed.

The app does not pose a risk to privacy, the OGCIO added.

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Given that the app has undergone and passed security risk assessment and auditing as well as privacy impact assessment conducted by independent third parties to ensure its compliance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, members of the public can feel at ease when using the app.

The OGCIO also reminded people that visiting or downloading websites or mobile apps of doubtful origin pose risks to cyber security and privacy. They should adopt proper information security measures and must not defy the law.

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Hong Kong reported 15 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, of which 10 were locally transmitted, bringing the city's overall infection tally to 10,848.